Saint Dominic
founder of the Dominican Order (1170–1221)
Feast: 8 August (current Roman calendar, memorial) · 4 August (1962 Missal, III class)
Who they were
Dominic was born in 1170 at Caleruega in Old Castile. Ordained at 24, he joined the canons of Osma cathedral and travelled with his bishop Diego, who took him on a mission to Denmark. Passing through the region of Toulouse they saw the Cathar heresy spreading, and in 1206 asked Pope Innocent III to let them preach; he sent them to the Albigensians of southern France.
After Diego died Dominic went on alone for years, meeting, persuading and debating, winning respect by his kindness and by living what he preached. Young men from across Europe joined him, and on 22 December 1217 Pope Honorius III approved the Order of Preachers, which spread rapidly. He died among his friars at Bologna on 6 August 1221.
The miracles
He was canonised just thirteen years after his death by Gregory IX, who had known him personally. The miracles examined are not described in the sources we have used.
Why that counted as sanctity
Dominic spoke only with God or about God. He met error not with force but with preaching, poverty and friendliness, and founded an order of preachers to carry the truth everywhere. Lacordaire called him 'tender as a mother, strong as a diamond'.
Connected on this site
- Joan of Aza Blessed Mother, Parent
- Manés de Guzmán Blessed Brother or sister
- Vatican News - Saint of the day (Italian): Saint Dominic
- Wikidata Q44091 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Dominic de Guzmán (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.